“A Christian's
sincerity is not eclipsed without the intervening of the earth between God and
his soul. Get above the love of the world. This is a stubborn root for
hypocrisy to grow on. If your heart becomes attached to something else in the
world, and chooses it above everything else, you will be sick with longing for
it and vulnerable to take the first advice Satan offers for getting what you
want most. Hunters do not care how they get in-- over hedges and ditches and
through marshes-- just so long as they catch the rabbit.
It is a mystery
how a saint, with the precious ointment of Christ poured upon his heart, could
still have such a strong scent after the world. It would seem that the sweet
perfume which comes to those beds of spices-- God's promises would spoil the
Christian's desire for hunting earthly game. The breath from Christ in them
should so fill the saint's senses that gross earthly enjoyments would no longer
be pleasing to him.
This is true as
long as the Christian's spiritual senses are open, but as a head cold stops up
the nose from doing its job, so a Christian's negligence obstructs his heavenly
graces. And when a saint cannot enjoy Christ's divine savor, the devil takes
advantage and immediately sets some soridly
(Degrading-Selfish) attraction before him. Soon the flesh picks up the
scent and takes the Christian into a chase, which dead-ends in sorrow and
shame. Get above the fear of the world.
Fear of man brings
a snare. A coward will run into any hole, no matter how filthy, to save
himself. And when the holiest saints are tempted, they are like all other men.
When Peter's reputation seemed to be in a little danger, he did not "walk
uprightly according to the truth of the gospel" Galatians 2:14. Instead he
took one step forward and another back again-- sometimes he was willing to eat
with Gentiles, but at other times he was not. Why? Because he feared "them
which were of the circumcision Galatians 2:12.”
Become a person who lives a life of saturation with God’s Word, His
presence and ways and let your roots go deep in Him. Psa. 1:1 (AMP) BLESSED (HAPPY, fortunate,
prosperous, and enviable) is the man who walks and lives not in the counsel of the ungodly [following their
advice, their plans and purposes], nor stands [submissive and inactive] in the
path where sinners walk, nor sits down [to relax and rest] where the scornful
[and the mockers] gather. 2 But his delight and
desire are in the law of the Lord, and on His law (the precepts, the
instructions, the teachings of God) he habitually meditates (ponders and
studies) by day and by night.† 3 And he shall be like a tree
firmly planted [and tended] by the streams of water, ready to bring forth its
fruit in its season; its leaf also shall not fade or wither; and everything he does shall prosper [and come to
maturity].
Quoted material from, ”The Christian in Complete Armour Daily Readings
in Spiritual Warfare” by Gurnall and James S Bell.
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